Though no longer an uncommon occurrence each summer, a streak of red tide hit local waters as early as last week, a premature showing from the algal bloom that officials say is likely responsible for a fish kill in an Aquebogue creek.
A spokesman with the Department of Environmental Conservation stated on Thursday that on Aug. 2, dead killifish, snappers, and black sea bass — all with a coating of "orange slime" — were reported at Cases Creek in Aquebogue.
The report, which is "almost certainly" red tide according to the DEC, came earlier in the summer than typical occurrences — and bodes for a summer where locals will likely see the dark algae in higher quantities across the East End.
After months of controversy, the 'Save Main Road' group has filed an Article 78 lawsuit against the Riverhead Town Board for what they believe was an "improper" awarding of special use permits regarding the proposed Village at Jamesport development.
"The action is focused on voiding those permits, and also on highlighting gross errors in the town’s approval process," a press release from Save Road members states.
'Save Main Road' their intention to seek legal action. According to a press release sent out by the group on Thursday, the intent of the action is to "hold board members accountable for a cascade of failures in approving these permits."
For years now, Fishers Island has been losing its full-time population — which has never been booming anyway.
A military base on the island in the 1940s helped maintain a small town level of a population — 1,500, according to the 1950 U.S. Census. But the military left, and residents left, subsequently — 1960: 500, 1990: 321, 2000: 289, 2010: 236.
Finding ways to stop the bleed of emigration from Fishers Island and to possibly boost full-time numbers continues to be a frustrating process for full-time and part-time residents, Southold Town Board members, and the island’s civic planner, Elizabeth Reid, who took over for planner Meredith Doyen three years ago.
